What to expect on first days as a new driver?

[IVE GOTTA PACKAGE 4U]

Google knows 99% of actual house numbers. Paper maps know 0%. Google has the actual houses rendered on the map and when you press and hold it, the address appears. Not sure why you would have this problem. If you have the number punched in, it'll have you take the right turn at the intersection 99% of the time. Without it, you WILL be going in the wrong direction half the time based on guess work.

Unless you are out in the middle of nowhere. Google maps suck out in the boonies.

 

[JL 0513]

Unless you are out in the middle of nowhere. Google maps suck out in the boonies.

That's the 1% of developed land it doesn't get right.

I also have the Mapquest app on my phone that actually sometimes has an off the grid street that Google doesn't have yet. Otherwise, the app isn't nearly has well designed as Google Maps which is also far better than any Garmin or TomTom.

 

[IVE GOTTA PACKAGE 4U]

That's the 1% of developed land it doesn't get right.

I also have the Mapquest app on my phone that actually sometimes has an off the grid street that Google doesn't have yet. Otherwise, the app isn't nearly has well designed as Google Maps which is also far better than any Garmin or TomTom.

Thankfully I don't have to deal with that while I'm delivering. Not sure how some of these guys learn those routes.

 

[JL 0513]

Bottom line is, the best way to learn a route is simply to do it a for a week. Delivery repetition out on the road is what makes it stick regardless of whether you use paper or Google maps.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

When I had my country run most of the towns on the area had the number breaks of the roads that bisected an intersection right on their signs. For example, let's say that you were on Maple Road and you were coming up to the intersection with Balsam Road. The signs for Balsam Road would have the number breaks in both directions printed right on the sign, which took the guessing out of whether your next stop on Balsam was to the left or to the right.

 

[JL 0513]

When I had my country run most of the towns on the area had the number breaks of the roads that bisected an intersection right on their signs. For example, let's say that you were on Maple Road and you were coming up to the intersection with Balsam Road. The signs for Balsam Road would have the number breaks in both directions printed right on the sign, which took the guessing out of whether your next stop on Balsam was to the left or to the right.

Every intersection street sign in America should have that. I've never seen that in my area.

 

[Star B]

Google knows 99% of actual house numbers. Paper maps know 0%.

My rural paper maps have the address split on it. It also helps that the numbering system is county-wide. Also, Google maps is useless out there... the address do not come up. I tried when I first started. I use Here maps when I'm absolutely stumped as Here actually has the rural addressing.

Every intersection street sign in America should have that. I've never seen that in my area.

I'm sorry. Most of our major cities have the block number on the sign. You still have to know which way to go higher or lower.

 

[pkgdriver]

I have a feeling that drivers weren't thrown on 5 different routes a week 30 years ago.

I sure was. In our center now the routes on vacation are put up for bid. Highest unassigned driver picks first and goes down the line. It is generally followed but sometimes staffing/area knowledge changes things and you will have drivers doing 5 different routes in a week.

 

[Savvy412]

Google knows 99% of actual house numbers. Paper maps know 0%. Google has the actual houses rendered on the map and when you press and hold it, the address appears. Not sure why you would have this problem. If you have the number punched in, it'll have you take the correct turn at the intersection 99% of the time. Without it, you WILL be going in the wrong direction half the time based on guess work.

Ya but when you are new..its hard to think 3-4-5-6 stops ahead. and how the streets run (high to low)

so if you have smith street and then douglas streets next. it might take you kind of through douglas to get to smith, but really...you should go a different way so it does smith first and then youll end up on douglas. I cant really explain what I mean.

But im not saying paper map is better.im talking cons of JUST USING googlemaps and not your head.

 

[Savvy412]

No one's mentioned anything about what happens when one ends up on a route and you have no cell service and no map.... Could be interesting.

when I dont have service..my googlemaps still shows up. It wont navigate me, but the map still shows up of where I am and I can zoom in and just look to where I need to go.

 

[Pooter]

We are on a grid. Numbers get bigger going west and south. Can't beat that.

Except one county that fkd it up and reversed it.

 

[Savvy412]

I dont know, maybe im dumb, because it took me a little bit to get used to that ^^ . Like knowing that. and running it effectively in my route so it all makes sense. 2-3-4 stops/streets ahead

 

[selfcancelsignal]

Every intersection street sign in America should have that. I've never seen that in my area.

That would be nice. I've seen it, but not on any of our country runs.

 

[selfcancelsignal]

Ya but when you are new..its hard to think 3-4-5-6 stops ahead. and how the streets run (high to low)

so if you have smith street and then douglas streets next. it might take you kind of through douglas to get to smith, but really...you should go a different way so it does smith first and then youll end up on douglas. I cant really explain what I mean.

But im not saying paper map is better.im talking cons of JUST USING googlemaps and not your head.

Even after having my route for a year it's difficult to think more than one stop ahead. Too busy thinking about all the kitty I wanna slam, either at previous or upcoming stops.

 

[Tom MacDonald]

I figure when I first start driving im just going to get a mount for my phone and have it on the charger for constant gps.

Im sure it'll slow me down, but during my first couple weeks im assuming i can get away with it

 

[cosmo1]

I figure when I first start driving im just going to get a mount for my phone and have it on the charger for constant gps.

Im sure it'll slow me down, but during my first couple weeks im assuming i can get away with it

Let us know how that works out for you.

 

[oldngray]

I figure when I first start driving im just going to get a mount for my phone and have it on the charger for constant gps.

Im sure it'll slow me down, but during my first couple weeks im assuming i can get away with it

Its better to print some paper maps of your areas and memorize them.

 

[Tom MacDonald]

Let us know how that works out for you.

I was hoping you would more tell me whether or not it could work. Just an idea from someone who wouldnt know anyway. (obviously)

 

[oldngray]

You could use GPS to help you find stops but shouldn't rely on it as a crutch for everything. The better you learn your route the less you should need maps.

 

[Tom MacDonald]

WRONG!!!

You work in the Lenexa hub? nice royals avatar